“Make sure your message is clear, yet that you are faithful to its complexity.” — Michael Dirda Simplicity is overrated. While it is imperative to craft a concise synopsis of who you are and what you do, it is equally crucial to elaborate the specifics. Career stories that are faithful to their complexity activate emotion: struggle, fear, boldness, excitement and the overall thrill of victory....

Employing a resume writer to help position you for your next role can be a positive experience — if you’re prepared to work collaboratively and have realistic expectations. Below are five signs you’re in the right place to begin a resume project with a professional resume writer. 1. You have time to be part of the process. Resume writing is a very collaborative process. Expect to spend time being inter...

Resume and hiring trends can confuse even executives, especially when they are getting advice from multiple sources, and some information may contradict what others are saying. So what data, specific to hiring and resume trends, can you depend upon? Career Directors International (CDI) created a Global Hiring Trends report after surveying professionals worldwide for their insights and preferences and brought context a...

Have you recently finished a major project at work (as a leader or team member, received recognition or a promotion, or finished a career-related course or certification? Then it is time to make an entry into your “brag file.” All too often, after some time has passed, we tend to forget past achievements and milestones. We downplay them in our minds as we move onto the next challenge. Yet, those achievements are...

Many job interview mistakes can be overlooked or corrected. However, when it comes to your resume, it must be flawless. Your resume is a marketing document for your most important product: YOU! If you’ve been sending out your resume, but haven’t been gaining any traction, it is time to review your resume with a critical eye. I’ve talked to countless HR and hiring managers over the years, and these are the...

Writing a resume? A quality resume is the key to getting a call back and an interview. Once you get one of those, you can charm any potential employer and dazzle them with your myriad skills, right? Without that excellent resume though, you may not even get a second look for a job you’re perfect for. When it comes to writing a resume, there are some words that shouldn’t appear anywhere. Keep reading to...

Even executive job seekers can’t escape the reality that applicant tracking systems (ATS) are used by companies and recruiters for all levels of potential candidates. Because of their efficiency to track keywords and phrases, these ATS systems have an influence in the hiring process that is not likely to go away in the near future. What is an ATS-friendly resume? An ATS-friendly resume is formatted in such...

While job seekers can’t turn back the clock, there are some things they can do to remain relevant in the eyes of the employer. By making some simple upgrades to your search strategy, you can potentially eliminate some of the bias associated with older workers. Here are four suggestions. 1. Create a Gmail account for job searches, as some of the earlier providers like AOL and Hotmail tend to skew towards an older au...

Q. I have a lot of technical skills, with certifications in several software programs, but employers always want more. How can I convince them that I am fully capable of learning those skills quickly and becoming the expert they want? A. Many companies are guilty of asking for an impossible set of technical skills in their ads, job postings, or directions to recruiters. At Robin’s Resumes®, we can align technic...

Just when you think the resume is outdated or no longer serves a purpose, it is resurrected with new life and new purpose – assuming it ever really died in the first place. What is the new-to-you-because-it-really-isn’t-new resume purpose? Ensuring your resume can be read on mobile devices. When I was a recruiter, I used to look at resumes in 2008 via email on my chunky Samsung phone (Man, I loved that...